Fund Accounting Manager — El Segundo, CA | Pacific Executive Search

Fund Accounting Manager

(Job ID: 1981)

El Segundo, CA

Hybrid

Direct Hire

Real Estate

$115,000 – $125,000 base

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Overview

Join a dynamic team as a Fund Accounting Manager, where you will play a pivotal role in overseeing the financial activities of diverse real estate funds. This position offers a unique opportunity for professional growth and development within a collaborative and innovative work environment. You will work closely with cross-functional teams, enhancing your expertise while contributing to impactful financial decision-making. Embrace a culture that values integrity, excellence, and continuous improvement as you help drive the success of our investment strategies.

Responsibilities

Oversee the preparation and analysis of consolidated financial statements for various in-house managed funds, ensuring accuracy and compliance.
Manage cash flow activities, including capital calls, distributions, and line of credit transactions, in coordination with Fund Managers.
Review and approve all cash journal entries, payable processing, bank reconciliations, and management fee calculations for proper documentation.
Collaborate with external fund administrators to review financial statements and maintain accurate books and records.
Analyze discounted cash flow models and appraisal documents, providing constructive feedback to asset managers and appraisers.
Implement process improvements and efficiencies across accounting functions to enhance operational effectiveness.
Assist in coordinating annual audits with external auditors, preparing necessary financial statements and supporting documentation.

Qualifications

Must-Have:
Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance with 3-4 years of relevant accounting experience.
Experience in real estate and/or joint venture accounting.
Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Word.
Strong analytical, communication, and organizational skills with a detail-oriented work ethic.
Nice-to-Have:
Experience with ERP systems such as SAP or NetSuite.
Big 4 accounting firm experience and CPA certification.
Familiarity with ASC-740 and revenue recognition principles.
Ability to manage multiple tasks and prioritize effectively in a fast-paced environment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do Accounting Manager hires fail?
Because companies hire for close execution when the real need is issue ownership and team leadership. Many candidates can manage a checklist. Far fewer can stabilize the function under pressure, improve weak processes, coach staff, and hold the line during audit, turnover, or reporting stress.
What are strong Accounting Manager candidates evaluating during the interview process?
They are usually trying to understand whether they are walking into a stable environment, a cleanup situation, or an under-resourced function. Strong candidates do not just evaluate title and compensation. They assess whether success is realistically achievable and whether leadership understands what the accounting team actually needs.
Why do accounting roles in real estate often require a different kind of operator?
Because entity structures, property-level reporting, intercompany activity, partnership considerations, and ownership reporting can create a more structurally complex environment than many standard corporate settings. Real estate accounting roles usually demand a candidate who understands the operating rhythm of the business, not just the debits and credits.
Why does ERP experience matter so much in roles like this?
Because many accounting and finance roles are really process-and-systems roles disguised as job titles. A candidate may know the accounting, but if they cannot operate effectively inside the company's environment, ramp time becomes risk. Exact system match is not always mandatory, but comparable complexity often is.
How do strong candidates typically evaluate opportunities like this?
Strong candidates rarely evaluate a role based on title alone. They look at what the position actually owns, how the function is viewed internally, whether the environment is stable or in transition, and what success will realistically look like in the first 6 to 12 months. Many first discover a role through a posting, but the strongest career decisions usually come from understanding the context behind the opportunity, not just the job description. In accounting and finance hiring, that level of context is often what separates a lateral move from a meaningful one. Learn more about how strategic accounting and finance searches differ from transactional recruiting.
Is the CPA really required for roles like this?
Sometimes yes, and often functionally yes even when the posting says "preferred." At leadership levels especially, the CPA frequently acts as a credibility signal for hiring managers, auditors, lenders, investors, or boards. There are exceptions, but in many accounting searches it remains one of the clearest markers of technical foundation.

Fund Accounting Manager

Overview

Responsibilities

Qualifications

Apply Now

Frequently Asked Questions

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